Argentine star Lionel Messi celebrated his new deal with Barcelona by scoring twice in the European champions’ 5-2 win over floundering Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Messi signed a two-year contract extension on Friday that will keep him at the club until 2016 and with a buy-out clause rising from 150 million euros (US$221 million) to an even more staggering 250 million euros, but he showed his value to the defending champions as Barcelona made it three wins in three games to stay top of the table.
Having failed to record a win so far this season the signs were ominous for Atletico ahead of their visit to the Camp Nou.
Last season, they lost the corresponding match 5-1 and on Saturday they quickly went behind after a good finish from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Messi then scored the first of a brace, rounding the keeper after being put clear by Xavi Hernandez. Maxi Rodriguez and Jose Jurado had chances to pull a goal back, before a Dani Alves free-kick and a Seydou Keita tap-in gave Barcelona a 4-0 advantage. A poor header from Sergio Busquets set up Sergio Aguero who pulled a goal back before halftime.
Barcelona took their foot off the pedal after the break, but continued to control the game except for rare counterattacks from Atletico, one of which led to a Diego Forlan goal six minutes from time. Messi though completed the scoring during injury-time.
“It was a strange match, perhaps down to the way both teams played,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. “I think that if we had not had that level of intensity, we would not have won. Both sides attacked, but we were not clever enough with the ball. We did not take enough advantage of the way their defense pushed up. We need to play the ball around more and wait for openings to develop.”
Atletico coach Abel Resino lamented his team’s lackluster start.
“We were 2-0 down straight away and it was only then that we began to find our feet,” Resino said. “We did not begin at the level in which you have to be at to face sides like Barcelona, who scored four goals with their first five shots.”
New signing Alvaro Negredo scored his first goal for Sevilla as they defeated Osasuna 2-0.
It was more than 15 years since Sevilla last won in Pamplona, but the Osasuna defense struggled with the power and strength of Negredo and Frederic Kanoute. Negredo, supplied by Adriano Correia, put the visitors ahead after 36 minutes. In the second half, Walter Pandiani missed a glorious chance to equalize, before Kanoute secured Sevilla’s victory. Sergio Fernandez was later dismissed for a strong challenge on Diego Perotti to add to Osasuna’s woes.
Real Mallorca equaled their best ever start to a season with a convincing 4-0 win over promoted Tenerife.
The Balearic Island side took the game to Tenerife from the start, going ahead after 16 minutes through Mario Suarez. Artiz Aduriz completed a good move after 50 minutes and then eight minutes later Julio Alvarez was put through by Borja Valero. Two minutes before time, a Pierre Webo penalty completed the rout.
Bottom side Espanyol managed their first win of the season, and their first goals, with a 3-2 away win at Deportivo La Coruna.
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